Key action for typewriters and other machines



Jan. l, 1929.

O. U. DESHA KEY ACTION FOR TYPEWRITER AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 24, 1927 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 V' 1 v Y Jan. l, 192,9. 1,697,416 o. u. DESHA l KEY ACTION FOR TYPEWRITER AND OTHER MACHINES Filed March 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

nuire s'rArs PATENT OFFICE.

ORVILLE U. DESEA, 0F FORT COLLINS, COLORADO.

Application filed March 24, 1927. Serial N-o. 178,084.

My invention relates to improvement in key-action for typewriters and other type bar and key operating machines, actuating means at all times operatively connecting the type bar and key lever moving the type bar to printing point upon the depression of the key lever and means reversely breaking the said connection after the printing impact of the type bar for the return of the type bar to normal position While the key lever is in depressed position, this broad object being the subject matter of an application filed by me on November 5th, 1928, Serial No. 672,871, upon which Patent 1,643,203, issued Sept, 20, 1927, as a contradistinction between previous devices comprising a detachable connection or gap at some point between the key lever and type bar after the latter has been given the movement necessary to effect the printing and before the key lever has completed its movement.

The specific object of the present invention is to provide improved means of the character specified above wherebythe reversely breaking actuating connect-ion between the key lever and the type bar is in the nature of a novel operative structure that may readily be incorporated in certain typewriting inachines with only slight modifications of the structural features of said machines as they now exist.

I have shown my invention embodied, in the present instance, in a typewriter similar to the L. C. Smith standard machine, and in which the invention may be readily incorporated by slight modification of the structural features of the machine in effecting such incorporation. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not restricted to use in a machine of this type but may be employed wherever found available.

The desired principle of operation, new mechanical functions, operative expedients, and other objects and .advantages will hereinafter be described in the following disclosure and will be more particularly pointed out in the appending claims. In the accompanying drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the various views. y

In the drawing Figure I, is a vertical section of a typewriter, one key action only being shown in normal position; Fig. II, represents a view of the key mechanism similar to Fig. I, the key lever being shown depressed and responding the type bar. Fig.

ted to show the remainder of the key levers and type bars as well as other devices necessary or advisable in the complete machine.

In the embodiment in Fig. I, 1 indicates the frame of a typewriter, 1a indicates the front and 1b the rear, having a common power driven paper carriage l2 supported in the rear on guide -rod 3 and in front on guide 4; 5 indicates the common platen carried by the paper carriage 2. 6 indicates one of the usual type bars carrying the'type 7 at its front end, and is arranged to turn on pivot 9 in the form of a segment disposed vertically below the frame face of the plate 10 thereby providing the type 7 with avcommon printing point A as the type bar 6 turns on pivot 9 from normal horizontal position of restvon the segment 11 in the usual manner.

12 indicates one of the key leverscarrying at the front end finger key 13, the rear end pivoted at 14 to bar 14* in the rear of the machine, and is kept normally in its elevated position by the spring 15 supported by bar 15a at normal rest of key lever bearing against the under-side of stop bar 15b above the key lever 12. Key llever 12 is formed with downward offset or broken angles 16 and 16a arranged to provide room for bar 20, and key lever is also provided with upwardly projecting arm 16b behind the bar 20, and

provides a saddle-backed seat 17 for the coupling hereinafter described.

The key lever 12 is described as yhaving two incidents of operation, namely; the incident of depression and the incident of release. The incident of depression is disclosed by the movement of key lever 12 from radius Bto radius C, and the incident of release is disclosed by the movement of the key lever 12 back from radius C to radius B. The type bar 6 is described as having two incidents of operation, namely; incident of response and the incident of recoil. The incident of response of the type bar 6 is disclosed by the movement of the type bar from` its initial rest radius E to the printing point A, indicated by radius F, forming arc G from pivot 9. The incident of recoil of type bar 6 is disclosed by its movement from the printing point A back to normal rest E. These inevident-s of Operation are, of course, present in type bars of nonreversely breaking action in so far as the incident of response, E to A, of the type bar 6 already known to'the art occurs simultaneously with the incident of depression, B to C, of key lever 12, and the incident of recoil A to E of the type bar occurs simultaneously with the. incident of release, C to B, of the key lever, but the novelty of my invention relative to the correlation of incidents of operation of the key lever with that ofthe t-ype bar in providing the opera tive expedient by which both the incident of response, E to A, of the type bar and the incident of recoil, A to E, occur during the one incident of depression, B to C, of the key lever. This operative expedient is accomplished, in this case, by a novel reversely breaking actuating coupling being the principal subject matter of this application, engaging the parts connecting the key lever with the` type bar, hereinafter described.

18 indicates one of a series of angular' vi bratory levers, with rear angle vertex 18 and front vertex 18b the part between said angles being horizontal; part below vertex 18abeing perpendicular to key lever; part above vertex 18b slanting backwards, the vibratory levers correspond in number with the type bars 6 and key levers 12. Lower ends of vibratory levers 18 are pivoted at 19 in a bar 2O above the key lever 12 and extending across the machine; upper end of the vibratory lever is pivoted at 21 to a backward pull-rod 21a.

, 22 is a Ybac-kward draw link and 28 is a backward thrust link of what is hereinafter described as a reversely breaking actuating coupling which connects the key lever and vibratory lever.

Intermediately their ends each of the backward draw link 22 is pivoted at 25 near the front vertex 18 of the angular vibratory lever 18, and the rear end of the backward draw link 22 pivoted at 24 to the rear end of the backward thrust link 28, the front end of the backward thrust link 23 being pivoted at 26 to the upwardly projecting arm 16 of key lever 12 behind bar 20 and pivot rod 19 of angularI vibratory lever 18.

The relative normal position of pivots 24, 25 and 26are engaged in a line J J Fig. 1V, substantially slanting forward and upward from pivot 24 to pivot 25.

1t will be observed that the backward draw link 22 and thrust link 23 constituting the reversely breaking actuating coupling operate in a plane above the key lever. Also it will be noted that the backward draw link plurality of holes 27a in the front end of the backward draw link 22 and the other end engaging hole 27b in the depending edge of cross bar 27C in the front of the machine which spring serves to hold link 22 in tension lock and to vibra-te lever 18 forward to normal position shown in Fig. I, and to return it and the type bar 6 to normal position E after operation.

28 is a rearwardly extended nose of draw link 22 and is designated as a fulcrum trip, pivot 24 being the fulcrum point about which draw link 22 turns in cooperating with top of key lever 12 in lifting thrust link 28 out of seat 17. Draw Alink 22 cooperates with return bar 29 in restoring the reversely breaking actuating coupling to normal operativo position during the incident of release of the key lever. For additional .ieans for restoring said coupling to normal operative position angle point 16a of key lever 12 is provided with a noise-absorbing contactepoint 16" communicating with the under edge 22n of the front end of draw link 22.

While draw links 22 and thrust links 23 are operating under tension lock, spring 27 is drawn to high tension, and then at this stage the energy is diverted to the recoil of the type bar as thrust link 23 is tripped out of tension lock, thereby attaining the operative `expedient by which energy stored in responding the type bar is diverted to its recoil.

The new mechanical movements and opera. tion thereof are important factors ofthe invention in providing the novelty function of the key action. A further description of the operative principle, therefore, follows: The geometric circle H H, Fig. IV, with a diametrical line J J fromthe backward border pivots 24 to forward border pivot 25 circumn scribes what is termed the actuating plane. The diametrical line J J from the backward border pivot 24 to the forward border pivot 25, indicates the divert tension line and divides the actuating plane into the upper zone of re spense K and a lower zone of reaction L; the Zone of responsey K having to do with the response of the type bar 6 from radius to ra.n dius F while the key lever 12 being de pressed from radius B to radius l); and the lower zone of reaction L having todo with the recoil of the type bar 6 from the printing point A to radius E at rest while the key lever 12 is being continually depressed from radius D to radius C of depression. The'normal or idle position of backward thrust link 23 operates in the upper Zone of response K' as shown in Figs. I, 1I and 1V. It is necessary that the backward draw links 22 be of such length between pivots 24 and 25 and in such form and so engaged in such fashion as to permit the pivotal point 26 to oscillate between pivots 24 and 25 in crossing and rec-rossing the divert tension line JJ.

The

Sli

backward draw link 22, therefore, is angular formed and is also designated as the long link of the reversely breaking actuating coupling. The backward thrust link 23 is relatively short. lnthis case, the elements 22 and 23 of the reversely breaking actuating coupling are foldedy during the incident of depression from radius B toradius D of the key lever l2 and simultaneously with the incident oi' response of type bar 6 from radius E to print ing point A; and the :toldment oi elements 22 and 23 unfolding during the remainder of de-r pression, radius D to radius C ci key lever l2 simultaneously with the recoil of the type bar from printing point A back to radius lil, the type bar recoiling to cushion ll at substan tially the same instant the key lever conta cts with stop bar 15C.

Saddle-backed seat 17 provided by the key lever l2 sto is pivotal point 2li and eilects responsive tension lock of the backward thrust link 23 under influence oi return spring 27 as the key lever l2 is being depressed `lroni radius B to radius D. rlhis tension lock of the backward thrust link 23 is also described as contractive tension lock or thrust meaning that while the key lever is being depressed, the energy required to respond the type bar G edects conti-active pressure or backward thrust from pivot 26 to pivot 2li instead ci eX- pansive tension, or pull. rlhe contract-ive tension of the backward thrust link 23 stops its oscillation and the link is moved bodily downward with the key lever, as shown in Fig. ll as the vibratory lever 18 throws the upper end of divert tension line J d upward until pivot 26 crosses 'the divert tension line J J into the zone of reaction L. Simultaneously with contract-ive tension lock of the backward thrust link23, backward draw link 22- operates under expansive tension between pivots 2/1 and 25 while the key lever l2 is being depressed from radius B to radius D to respond the type bar 6 from radius E to printing point A, and the expansive tension of the backward draw link 22 being relaxed while the key lever continues the incident ot `depression -from radius D to radius C and simultaneously with the recoil of the type bar o from the arinting point A back 'to radius of rest lil.

A change in correlativo position or pivotsA 24 and 25 in the actuating plane bring pivot 26 within the lower zone of reaction L thereby releasing the.. contractive tension lock oi' the backward thrust link 23. The releaseol contractive tension lock of the backward thrust link 23 permits it to resume oscillation about the time the type impacts the print-ing point A, When link 23 resumes oscillation, there being no further obstruction to the recoil of the type G, it immediately recoils from A. to E while the key lever l2 continues its incident of depression from D to C and contacting with bar 15C. The tri-pivotal relationship ot pivots 24E and 25 and 26 is necessary to eiiect the essential means of breaking reversely said coupling after printinginipact' of the type bar for returning of said type bar to normal position while the key lever is held' depressed.

The dotted line M M from pivot 24 and 25 indicates the relative relationship of the trin pivots of the coupling. Dotted line M M, Fig. l shows where the tri-pivotal relationship iorins. obtuse angle at pivot 26 pointng upward during` normal position and effecting response of the type bar dur-ino" depression oi key lever. Dotted line ll/l M, Fig. Il shows the alignment oit tri-pivotal relationship at Vthe time the type bar completes its response and begins to recoil. Dotted line M M, Fig.

' lll shows thevertex of obtuse angleI at pivot .26 termed by the tri-pivotal relationship poiited downward as the type bar recoils.

29 is a return ybar ext-ending across the machine above the rear end 'of backward draw link communicating therewith restoring said coupling to normal operative position when the key lever is released. y l

30 is a trip rod extending across the writing machine comprising a core 30ZL with noise absorbing insulation. Upon depression of key lever l2 the iront end olf the backward draw link 22 moves upward causing the upward edge near the front end oli said draw link to communicate with the'lower part ot' trip rod 20 providing additional means of breaking reversely said coupling.

lt should be understood that the present improvement is capable of a large range of modification within the scopeof the invention, and variations may be. resorted to withinjthe scope of the invention, and portions oi' the improvement may be used without others.

l/Vhat I claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. ln a typewriting machine, a type bar.l an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling rearwardly dis posed in a plane above the key lever opera` tively conn ecting the. vibratory lever and key lever t'or movingthe typebar to 'printing point upon depression of the key, means reversely breaking said coupling after the print# ing impact to return the type bar to normal position while the key Alever is in depressed position, means .restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

2. lin a type key action, a type bar, an angular vibra-tory lever pivoted atits lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting y the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling with the elements thereof in folding relation operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever, the elements of said coupling moving the type barto printing point upon depression ot' the key lever, means lunfolding said elements reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar, means restoring the unfolded elements of said coupling to normal operative toldment upon the release of the key lever.

, 3. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever with rearward and forward vertices of its angled-ends thereof disposed vertically and pivoted at its lower end-its upper end vibrating backwardlypart between said vertices being horizontalpart below rear vertex being perpendicular to the key lever part above the forward vertex slanting backwards, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever moving the type bar to the printing point upon depression ot' the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printi ing impact of the type bar for returning the type. bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

4. ln a type key mechanism and action, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a pivot bar extending across the machine for pivoting the lower end ot the vibratory lever, a backward pull link operatively'co'nnecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a downward offset formed intermediately the ends of said key lever providing room for the pivot bar ol said vibratory lever, a reversely Abreaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever to move the type bar to the printing point upon the depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact or' the type bari'or returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring` said connection to normal operative Aposition upon release ot the key lever.

`In a type-key action, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted atits lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting Athe vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted. at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever comprising va backward thrust link and a backward draw link pivoted intermediately of its ends to the forward vertex of the vibratory lever and connecting the vibratory lever and backward thrust link for moving` the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar, means returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

6. In a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the vibratory lever and key lever comprising a backward draw link and a backward thrust link vconnecting the key lever and draw link providing a backward thrust upon the latter tor moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, neans reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar for returning the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon releasev of the key lever.

7. ln a ytypewriting machine key, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivote'd at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the vibratorv lever and key lever comprising a backward thrust link and a backward draw link relatively long and short in length Amovin g the type bar 'to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar for returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

8. ln a type key action and mechanism, a type bar, an angular v-ibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a backward pull link opera-- tively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, `a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibrator-y lever comprising a backward draw link angular formed and the vertex of said angle pointing upward, an upwardly projectingfarm provided by said key lever operating in the lower angular plane of said backward 'draw link, a backward thrust link-the front end thereof pivoted to said upwardly projecting arm and rear end pivoted to the rear end of said draw link moving the type bar to the printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar returning the latter to normal position While key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release ot the key lever.

9. In a type-key action, and mechanism, a type bar, an angular vibra-tory lever pivo-ted at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type llo lli

fl (l bar, a key lever, a saddle-backed seat provided by said key lever, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever comprising a backward thrust link and a backward draw link ,moving the type bar to printing point upon depr ion of the key lever, a liulcrum trip nose provided by the rear end of said backward draw link extending rearwardly and communicating with the saddle-backed seat reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar 'lor returning the latter to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said fulcrum tri nose to normal operative position on the saddle-backed seat upon release of the key lever.

l0. ln a mechanism and action for a typekey, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a. backward pull link operatively connect-ing the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a i'eversely'breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever comprising a backward draw link and a. backward thrust link moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of tlie type bar, a return spring forwardly disposed above the key lever and its rear end supported by the forward end oi' the backward draw link and a cross bar in iront of the machine supporting the Jforward end of said return spring returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said mechanism to normal operative position uponv release. ot the key lever.

ll. ln a key action for a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivotedat its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever movin@a the type bar to printing` point upon depression of the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the` printing impact of the type bar to return the type bar to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, a pull spring in the rear of the machine above the key lever actuating the latter to its normal lelevated position restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever.

l2. ln a typewriting machine, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely lbreaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever comprising a backward draw link and a backward thrust link moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, mea-ns reversely breaking said coupling after printing impact of the type bar returning the type bar to normal position while key lever is inl depressed position, a'return bar extending across the machine, in the reary of said' vibratory lever cooperatingwith the key lever vibratory lever comprising a backward thrust link and a backward draw link p moving the type bar to printing point upon' depression oi the key lever, means reversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar for returning the type bar to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, a noise absorbing contact point provided by the key lever intermediately of its ends communicating with the under-edge of the front end of said draw link restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key'lever.

lll. In a type-key. action and mechanism, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connectng the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever comprising a backward draw link andv a backward thrust link moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of key lever, a trip rod extending across the machine in front ot the vibratory lever above the forward end of the backward draw link-said trip rod comprising a core with noise absorbing insulation the lower surfacethereof communicating with front end of said draw linkreversely breaking said coupling after the printing impact of the type bar for returning the latter to normal position while key lever is in depressed position, said cushionrod coininunicating with the vibratory lever to effect smooth and quiet operation of the latter and determine its normal position after operation.

15. ln a type-key action and mechanism, a type bar, an angular vibratory lever pivoted at its lower end, a backward pull link operatively connecting the vibratory lever and type bar, a key lever pivoted at its rear end, a reversely breaking actuating coupling operatively connecting the key lever and vibratory lever comprising a backward draw link and a backward thrust link, a forward border pivot connecting the vibratory lever and draw link intermediately of their respective ends, a backward border pivot connecting the draw link and thrust link, an interior pivot connecting the thrust link and key lever above a line drawn through the border pivots for moving the type bar to printing point upon depression of the key lever, means actuating the interior pivot downward acrossva divert tension line between the forward border pivot and the backward border pivot reverse- 10 1y breaking said coupling after printing imact of the type bar for returning the type Ear to normal position while the key lever is in depressed position, means restoring said coupling to normal operative position upon release of the key lever. v y I Signed at Fort Collins, in the county of Larimer and State of Colorado, this 4th day of April, A. D. 1927.

ORVILLE U. DESHA. 

